Child protection conference
Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 7:55 pm
The social services became concerned about my child because my partner and I were having relationship issues. These were addressed with the help of mental health services and my GP. My partner and I are in a same sex relationship. My child has never had any health or emotional issues. He calls us a family. He was 6 years old until last week. He has a good school history and was very settled. Recently, a social worker asked if she could see my son in school and then visit our home to see us together. I was happy with this and was not prepared for what she did. After seeing my son at school, she saw him alone in his bedroom, then saw me. She didn’t try speaking to my partner apart from asking her history.
Very shortly after, she asked if we could go to the local council office for a meeting. On arrival, she separated us, and took me into a room. I am not British, but have lived in England for 24 years. Inside the room, the atmosphere changed. A man introduced himself as a police officer and informed me that my partner had committed a serious crime in 1998. It was Manslaughter. He didn’t listen to me and said that we were in serious danger of harm, despite us living together for some time and having a loving caring environment. Unbeknown to me, they had arranged for my son’s father to travel to where I was and asked him to care for our son. I was placed in a hotel away from my son and partner and told that I was being watched, and not to return to the family home. My partner is disabled and I am her sole carer. They weren’t interested in the welfare of anyone on that day. My partner returned home alone and they visited her at the house and told her that she was a serious risk to my child. They told her to pack my things and weren’t prepared to listen to her mitigating circumstances leading to her crime. After two days of being alone, I couldn’t bear the idea of us being separated as a family and returned home. My partner and I talked about everything, and she said that she would understand if I left but I stayed, and we were satisfied that what they had done wasn’t appropriate.
Today I went to meet my son’s father to take him to school, but he took my child away saying that he had information from social services, and he wasn’t prepared to leave him with me. This was done by him on social services advice. I was devastated. The school were unaware of anything. Later, I spoke with the family support worker at school who contacted social services. They later called to speak to me but I was too upset and my partner spoke with her. She finally listened to my partner who explained everything that happened 24 years ago. She also told her that she had worked with children from different backgrounds herself and had never harmed a child in her life. Her crime was involuntary, and this was heard. She then went on to question my partner’s mental health. She was completely honest and admitted that in the past she had had some issues, but it was not a factor in our family relationship. Later, she spoke to me and said that our relationship was not stable! It was as if she was looking for anything to separate the family. We asked her to observe us as a family, and she admitted that my son was a happy and bright boy. Next, she said that she was going to initiate a Child Protection Conference unless I was willing to give my ex full custody of my son. I told her that I wanted her to go ahead with a conference.
Is this a hopeless case?
Very shortly after, she asked if we could go to the local council office for a meeting. On arrival, she separated us, and took me into a room. I am not British, but have lived in England for 24 years. Inside the room, the atmosphere changed. A man introduced himself as a police officer and informed me that my partner had committed a serious crime in 1998. It was Manslaughter. He didn’t listen to me and said that we were in serious danger of harm, despite us living together for some time and having a loving caring environment. Unbeknown to me, they had arranged for my son’s father to travel to where I was and asked him to care for our son. I was placed in a hotel away from my son and partner and told that I was being watched, and not to return to the family home. My partner is disabled and I am her sole carer. They weren’t interested in the welfare of anyone on that day. My partner returned home alone and they visited her at the house and told her that she was a serious risk to my child. They told her to pack my things and weren’t prepared to listen to her mitigating circumstances leading to her crime. After two days of being alone, I couldn’t bear the idea of us being separated as a family and returned home. My partner and I talked about everything, and she said that she would understand if I left but I stayed, and we were satisfied that what they had done wasn’t appropriate.
Today I went to meet my son’s father to take him to school, but he took my child away saying that he had information from social services, and he wasn’t prepared to leave him with me. This was done by him on social services advice. I was devastated. The school were unaware of anything. Later, I spoke with the family support worker at school who contacted social services. They later called to speak to me but I was too upset and my partner spoke with her. She finally listened to my partner who explained everything that happened 24 years ago. She also told her that she had worked with children from different backgrounds herself and had never harmed a child in her life. Her crime was involuntary, and this was heard. She then went on to question my partner’s mental health. She was completely honest and admitted that in the past she had had some issues, but it was not a factor in our family relationship. Later, she spoke to me and said that our relationship was not stable! It was as if she was looking for anything to separate the family. We asked her to observe us as a family, and she admitted that my son was a happy and bright boy. Next, she said that she was going to initiate a Child Protection Conference unless I was willing to give my ex full custody of my son. I told her that I wanted her to go ahead with a conference.
Is this a hopeless case?